The Pirate's Map

by J. N. Cao

  When she felt it was safe, Matilda quietly stepped out of the house.

  The woman was now playing with her cats and still had not noticed Matilda.

  “Excuse me,” Matilda said to the woman.

  “Yes?”

  “May I buy those clothes you have there on the clothesline?”

  “But they’re men’s clothes. They belong to my son.”

  “I know. Will this do?” Matilda said as she held out some money to the woman.

  Some time later, Matilda stepped out of the house dressed in men’s clothing and wearing a large beret, her long dark hair tucked underneath. The clothes fitted her well, given that she was slightly taller than the average female. She also had a false moustache on for good measure. She thanked the woman and left. The woman stood at the door, baffled, and watched Matilda leave. Then she shook head, “Young people, they read too many books these days,” and then went back into her house.

  Matilda walked down the street that she thought she had come from and turned right. The street ended at a wall. Perhaps it was the street on her left, she thought, and so she turned back and entered that street. She passed several houses and then realised the street ended in a court. She had turned into a dozen streets while being chased by the guard and because it all happened so fast, she did not take any notice of where she was going. She was now lost amidst the maze of streets and alleyways. And it did not help that most of the houses looked very similar.

  Matilda then decided to turn back to the woman’s house from before to ask for directions. When she was about to turn a corner, someone collided with her. The collision was so rough that she fell to the ground.

  “Oh, sorry, my good man,” Matilda heard the person say. It was a voice of a young man.

  While collecting herself, Matilda saw a hand being offered to her. She took it, and the young man helped her to her feet.

  She recognised the young man to be Will from yesterday; he was carrying a rucksack.

  “Sorry. I was in a hurry to ——” Will stopped abruptly when he heard footsteps coming from the street behind him. He dashed behind some barrels nearby and hid.

  Standing where she was, Matilda eventually saw who they were. Will’s brothers and father passed by her, and they were all carrying weapons. A greyhound was also with them, and Bernard carried a dead stag on his shoulder. They did not take any notice of Matilda because they were too busy talking about their hunt. But the greyhound seemed to have caught a familiar scent. It left the group and walked into the street where Matilda was, heading towards the barrels. Then it wagged its tail when it found its youngest master.

  “Rover!” cried Isaac. “Rover, come here boy!”

  The greyhound raced back to Isaac and soon they were out of sight.

  “Are they gone?” Will whispered to Matilda.

  “Yes.”

  “That was close. I saw them coming from that street, so I quickly ran into this one where I bumped into you,” Will said as he got up from his hiding spot.

  “Why were you hiding from them?” Matilda asked, in her best imitation of a male voice.

  “Because I don’t want them to see me,” Will said as he brushed some dirt off his clothes. “Right, sorry about before. Good day,” Will said and then started to leave.

  “Wait. Is there a road to leave this town?” Matilda asked.

  “Yes, there is. The main road leads you straight out of town.”

  “I got lost here. Could you please show me the way out?” Matilda said.

  “All right. Follow me. I also happen to be leaving town too. You’re not from around, are you? Where are you heading to? I might be able to tell you the best road to take from Stamford,” Will said after they turned a corner.

  “Portsmouth.”

  “What a coincidence. I’m going there too. There is a road that I can show you later that can take you there,” Will said.

  There was a brief silence then Will said, “Are you a traveller?”

  “You could say that,” Matilda said. “What is there in Portsmouth for you?”

  “There’s a ship there taking people to explore new worlds. So I’m going to sign up. I’ve missed the one that left London earlier this year. Hopefully, there’s room left for me on this one.”

  “Are you a traveller?” Matilda asked.

  “Yes. Well at least starting from today.”

  Already Matilda could hear the bustling of people coming from the road ahead, then they stepped out onto the main road. Matilda looked around for any signs of Captain David and his men. Everything seemed safe she thought, especially now that she had a disguise on.

  “The gate to leave Stamford is this way,” said Will, and Matilda followed.

  Suddenly, Matilda pulled Will to the side and they hid behind a wagon parked next to a fruit stall.

  “What’s the matter?” Will asked.

  “Your family is coming.”

  Will looked over the wagon and there were his brothers and father heading down the road.

  Will turned to Matilda, “How did you know they’re my family?”

  Matilda did not want to tell him about the event yesterday, so instead, she said, “Their greyhound knew you, so I only guessed. Are you running away from your family? They don’t know you’re leaving, do they?” Matilda asked.

  “Yes, so we better make it through that gate as soon as possible.”

  They both turned to see that Will’s brothers and father had disappeared into a store.

  Matilda then stood up and turned to her side, but Will was not there.

  “Hmm. Looks like a criminal is on the run,” Matilda heard Will said.

  Matilda turned around and saw Will reading a wanted poster that was plastered on a wall.

  She came closer and saw the wanted poster of her. Not wanting Will to study the picture for too long, Matilda pulled him to the side. “We better go before your family comes out again.”

  As they approached the gate, Matilda immediately saw some of Captain David’s men standing there watching each person passing through the gate.

  Matilda tried to remain calm as she and Will walked past the guards. She was relieved when they were finally outside the town.

  “All those guards, just for Matilda Burley. I wonder what she has done,” said Will as soon as they were out of the guards’ sight.

  They walked some distance and then stopped at a road.

  “Here, this is the road that should lead you to Portsmouth,” Will said.

  “Well then, thank you for your help,” said Matilda and then she thought of saying something such as ‘good luck with getting a spot on the ship in Portsmouth’ or ‘have a safe journey.’ But she thought how odd it was to say such things when they are travelling on the same road. Eventually, she abandoned it all after realising that she was taking too long and so finished by saying, “Goodbye.” Then she walked right past him while he stood looking at her, slightly surprised. He seemed to want to say something, and it wasn’t goodbye.

  Matilda had walked a short distance when she heard someone cry, “Wait!”

  She turned around.

  Will caught up with her and then said, “I have an idea. Since we are both travelling to the same place, and how awkward would it be if we travelled with only a few feet between us and not acknowledging each other, we can travel together. It’s not a bad idea to have some company and a helping hand when in need, am I right?”

  Matilda didn’t see anything wrong with his suggestion. Still, the idea was new to her, and she hardly knew him. And the fact that she was in disguise would make it inconvenient. But on the other hand, what harm could there be travelling with a male companion who thinks that you are male, she thought.

  “Yes, I think it’s an all right idea,” Matilda said.

  “Good. I’m Will Sheffield. And your name?”

  “Matthew. Matthew Dudley.”

  “All right, Matthew it is,” said Will extending his hand.

  Matilda then shook his
hand. And so they set out onto the road leading to the next town, Balwyn.

  Chapter 8

  Balwyn

  Matilda and Will had walked for almost the whole day. It was just evening when large clouds were gathering, and they had not yet reached Balwyn. They were still in the countryside, with very few houses.

  “Looks like it’s going to rain,” Matilda said, looking at the sky.

  “We’d better find shelter soon,” Will said.

  So they walked on until Will spotted a farm nearby. “Wait here, I’ll ask if we can stop for shelter.”

  Moments later Will returned. “We’re in luck. The farmer said that there’s a monastery not far from here that would be happy to help us.”

  When they arrived at the monastery, the rain started to pour down. They knocked on the door and a monk answered. The monk told them that all the rooms were occupied by other monks, but he was happy to let them stay for the night in the oratory. Matilda and Will happily agreed to that, after all, there was nowhere else for them to go.

  The oratory had five rows of pews facing the altar, with an aisle in the middle. Matilda and Will occupied the last two rows; a pew each. They ate a small dinner, which they had packed. Matilda borrowed ink and a quill from the monk. Later that night, she sat at in the last row behind Will, who lay in his pew with his head resting on his bag. Then Matilda started to write a letter to Ralph and Roger.

  As she wrote, she could hear Will turning from side to side, trying to get comfortable. Some moments later he seemed to have stopped and Matilda heard him let out a sigh, and all was quiet. The room was quite dark, with only a few candles lit.

  Matilda was almost done with the letter when Will suddenly sprang up and walked over to the altar. He was looking for something and then returned with a book which Matilda could only guess was a bible.

  Will then lay back down and opened the book.

  Curious, Matilda asked him, “Is that the Bible you’re reading?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “I think reading this will help me fall asleep. Hmm. There is a burnt mark on this. I think someone dropped a candle,” said Will.

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was something, something of God was hovering over the waters.”

  “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters,” Matilda recited, almost to herself and surprised at what she remembered.

  Will got up, “That’s was impressive. Can you recite the whole Bible?”

  “Of course, not. Only the first few lines. And with the help of a jingle I made up,” Matilda said.

  “Are you from a monastery?” Will asked.

  “I was until I was four.”

  “Why was that?”

  “I was found at the steps of the monastery. They told me my father had died in war and my mother died of starvation, on their steps. So the monastery took me in, and when I was four, the monastery was attacked by bandits. I survived but there was nothing left of the monastery, so I left.”

  “And then you found another home?” Will said.

  “Yes, I was adopted by a family. During my time at the monastery, I was made to memorise the bible. The nun who looked after me was very strict.”

  “Nun?”

  Matilda had just realised the mistake she had made.

  “Er, yes. You see, because of the war, all the other monasteries with monks were overcrowded with orphan boys. The nuns decided to keep me until there was a monastery available to accept me,” Matilda lied.

  “I see.”

  “And what about your parents? Won’t they be worried to know that you left without a word?” Matilda asked, trying to change the topic.

  “Worried? I don’t think so. Angry more like. I’m expected to stay in the family business and become a blacksmith, which I have no interest in whatsoever.”

  Then they carried on talking for some time until they both decided to sleep. Before drifting off, Matilda wondered how the Duke could have found out that it was her. She blamed herself that the contrived evidence she had left in the study was not good enough, but it was all she could have devised under such time constraints. And now she was an outlaw. She had hoped to go on an adventure, without the troubles of being a fugitive. The thought of it gave her pangs of panic. She turned to her side and wondered if she had chosen the right path and if there was anything she could have done differently. Like staying with Grandpapa and missing out on the adventure? Never! She admitted that some of her past actions had been impulsive. But then she shook off all her worries and decided that what’s done is done. She would have to continue this journey in disguise, and she would just have to change her name after finding the treasure and then maybe move to another country. She felt better at the thought and slowly fell asleep.

  Matilda woke up the next morning before Will. At first, it took some time for her to recognise her surroundings. As she got up slowly, her beret fell off her head. A sudden awareness that she was still in disguise consumed her. She then quickly turned to Will and was relieved to find that he was still asleep. She quickly fixed her hair and put her beret back on. Her fingers then reached for her moustache, and she made sure that it was in the right position.

  Will slowly rose up from his pew and then stretched his arms.

  “Morning,” he said with eyes half opened.

  “Morning.”

  They were about to start packing when a monk came in with two small loaves of bread. They did not expect this and thanked the monk for his kindness. While they sat eating their bread, Matilda heard the sound of hooves stopping at the front of the monastery. She hoped that it was a messenger. She quickly pulled out her letter and raced out of the oratory and towards the entrance of the monastery. But the sight of two horses and their riders dressed in very fine clothes in the distance made her stop. They were clearly not messengers.

  “Matilda Burley?” she heard the monk say to them. And with that Matilda quickly hid behind the door.

  “Yes, has this person stopped by here?” asked one of the riders. He had a voice of a young man.

  “No, this is a monastery of monks. We do not keep women here. And I have never seen this woman,” replied the monk.

  “Well then, thank you for your help,” said the young man. And she heard him folding up a piece of paper, most likely her wanted poster.

  She heard them leave and she returned back to the oratory. She was baffled by what she had heard. They did not sound like Captain David’s men. In fact, they sounded much more polite. Still, she wondered why they were looking for her. Well, doubt it’s anything good, she thought.

  Matilda and Will had just finished packing their bags. Will turned to her, holding the bible and said, “You go first. I’ll just put this back.”

  As Matilda approached the entrance of the monastery she saw a messenger who had just arrived on his horse. A monk handed him some letters to be delivered. Matilda took out her letter and walked over to the messenger after the monk turned to leave.

  “Could you please deliver this letter for me?” she said.

  “Yes. Where to?” the messenger said.

  “How many inns are there in Portsmouth?”

  “Just one. The Ports Wing.”

  Just then Will arrived behind Matilda, but she did not notice him.

  “Then could you please deliver this letter to the Ports Wing,” Matilda said.

  “To Ralph Burley and Roger Hawkins,” the messenger read.

  “Yes. They won’t be there yet. But if you could leave it with the innkeeper to give to them when they arrive, I would be most grateful.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Thank you,” said Matilda as she gave him his fee.

  The messenger put the letter into his bag and then rode off.

  Matilda and Will returned to the road that they had left yesterday. It would take a half day’s walk before they rea
ched Balwyn, unless it rained, which would delay their trip.

  “So, you’re expecting people in Portsmouth?” asked Will in a tone of interest.

  “Yes.”

  “Friends?” Will asked.

  “No, family.”

  “Ah, I see. Hmm. So if they’re not in Portsmouth yet, does that mean they’re on their way there too?” Will said.

  “Yes.”

  So he continued, “If they are, then why are you not with them—your family?”

  He thought for a bit and then grinned. “Were you left behind? Or do they even know you’re coming?”

  “It’s nothing like that. They know I’m coming. They will wait for me at Portsmouth,” Matilda said.

  “Portsmouth is far away. Wouldn’t it be better to wait for you at Balwyn or something so that you all can travel together? Quite odd to leave you travelling alone.”

  “Well, that’s how it was arranged. They know I am very capable of travelling on my own,” Matilda said. “And if you’re going to keep asking anymore nosy questions, then don’t mind me for not talking.”

  “Well if we’re going to travel together then we should get to know each other. You already told me a fair bit about yourself last night.”

  Matilda said nothing.

  “Looks like it’s going to be a long, quiet trip then.” He chuckled. “I still think they left you behind. It’s unfortunate that we can’t choose our families.”

  By mid-afternoon they had arrived at Balwyn, a busy middle-sized town. When they walked into an inn called the White Horse, a woman came to greet them. She was middle-aged and dressed in elegant clothing.

  “Can I help you with anything, gentlemen?” she asked with a smile.

  “We would like a room for two please,” said Will.

  “Certainly,” she replied.

  Matilda knew that when two men travel together, they would naturally want to minimise costs by booking one room for two, but she was keen to finally be alone to take off her disguise. Her false moustache itched and the cloth binding her chest was quite uncomfortable after a long period of time. She did not look forward to sleeping another night with her disguise on.

  “Excuse me,” Matilda said.